Just bought this headphone amp/preamp....

[Marco]

Seems like great value for £98, for a Class A valve headphone amp, with high-quality construction and a proper, heavy-duty linear PSU: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274022984645

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/jO1bUl.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/rORi4c.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/LrzSj8.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/7WfpD5.jpg

I've been looking for something like this for a while [a headphone amp that should offer very high-SPPV, and that could potentially be a 'giant killer], so we'll see what it's like in due course!:cool:

Marco.

[Lawrence001]

Interesting I had a Chinese "Lovely Cube" clone of the Lehmann Black Cube and it was great value. I'm not sure how close this will be to the Lehmann as it's got a valve. It might actually sound better for that [emoji16]

PS Tom won't be happy about the branding if he sees this [emoji51]

PPS photos of the actual item are required [emoji38]



Sent from my HRY-LX1 using Tapatalk

[Marco]

Hi Lawrence,

Lol - it's not a sales thread, and I don't have the item yet!:ner::D

That aside, I agree about the branding and was surprised by that, I also think that the valve might 'help'... That's one of the things that intrigued me about the design, along with the fact that it has a proper linear PSU, no switch-mode crap, and the overall high standards of build quality, especially the casing, which TBH, you could pay £98 for alone!

So if it sounds good, it's going to be a serious Billy Bargain... Full report when it arrives:cool:

Marco

[Ali Tait]

Just bear in mind it's a 220v transformer mate.

[Marco]

Yeah defo, although isn't all Chinese gear? And I know that lots of folks have bought various different bits of kit and had no probs on our voltage, but of course I know things can still happen!:)

Good thing is, there are plenty of folks we know who could fix any issues, so that I still end up with a nice amp - and for the dosh I thought it was defo worth a punt!:cool:

Marco.

[Firebottle]

The case isn't earthed (very common for Chinese gear) but it looks like it may meet 'double insulated' standard from the pictures.
Looks like it has fully regulated supplies, probably even the valve heater so wouldn't expect problems with the 220V rating.

Interested what you make of it when you've tried it.

[Marco]

Thanks, Alan. That's a good point. If the unit had been rated at 230V, rather than 220, it wouldn't have been a problem, so it's always best being safe than sorry:)

Yes, it'll be interesting hearing what it sounds like! I like the idea that it also doubles as a preamp, as I'd quite like to get some little active speakers to use outdoors for garden parties, so along with a phone (Del's, as I don't do smartphones) and access to my Tidal account, it'll be an easy [and decent] way to pump some choons outside!:cool:

Marco.

[Landloper]

No smutch on anyone else, but I began to feel uncomfortable about buying Chinese goods owing to that state's profound abuse of their citizens and so stopped.

'About 500,000 individuals are [estimated to be ]currently detained without trial, charge or access to legal aid. The government uses Re-education through Labour (RTL) to arrest individuals without a trial. Usual targets of RTL include petitioners, protestors and those practicing an unrecognized religion. “Black jails” and mental health institutions are types of illegal detention that are utilized by authorities...'

'China is currently [thought to be]the leading executioner in the world. For decades, China imposed the death penalty for nonviolent crimes and unfair trials. In March 2017, the President of the Supreme People’s Court said that capital punishment was only applied “to an extremely small number of criminals for extremely severe offenses.” However, China’s statistics on death penalties remains classified and authorities fail to release numerical data...'

[struth]

No smutch on anyone else, but I began to feel uncomfortable about buying Chinese goods owing to that state's profound abuse of their citizens and so stopped.

'About 500,000 individuals are [estimated to be ]currently detained without trial, charge or access to legal aid. The government uses Re-education through Labour (RTL) to arrest individuals without a trial. Usual targets of RTL include petitioners, protestors and those practicing an unrecognized religion. “Black jails” and mental health institutions are types of illegal detention that are utilized by authorities...'

'China is currently [thought to be]the leading executioner in the world. For decades, China imposed the death penalty for nonviolent crimes and unfair trials. In March 2017, the President of the Supreme People’s Court said that capital punishment was only applied “to an extremely small number of criminals for extremely severe offenses.” However, China’s statistics on death penalties remains classified and authorities fail to release numerical data...'

Ive been actively trying to avoid their products amap. Its pretty much impossible to do completely but one can at least try. its not the Chinese people but the PCP.

[Landloper]

Ive been actively trying to avoid their products amap. Its pretty much impossible to do completely but one can at least try. its not the Chinese people but the PCP.


I agree, Grant. Definitely the socialist state there, not the people caught under its sway. It is difficult, perhaps even as you suggest, impossible, to avoid buying hi-fi without at the same time supporting the makers of Chinese components and thus contributing to the taxes that go to fund the dictatorship. The last new item I bought was from Cambridge Audio, a CD transport: 'Designed and engineered in Great Britian, assembled in China.' I came to the conclusion that I would use what I had until it failed and then replace with secondhand equipment.